Wood Specific Gravity of Some Tree Species in Sub-Tropical Humid Climate of India

Bisleshna Tamang; Biplov C. Sarkar; Nazir A. Pala; Gopal Shukla; Vineeta; P. A. Sofi; Sumit Chakravarty

doi:10.36808/if/2019/v145i7/147028

Wood Specific Gravity of Some Tree Species in Sub-Tropical Humid Climate of India

Authors

Bisleshna Tamang Department of Forestry, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Pundibari, Cooch Behar, W.B.
Biplov C. Sarkar Department of Forestry, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Pundibari, Cooch Behar, W.B.
Nazir A. Pala Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST, Kashmir, Benhama Watlar Ganderbal, J & K
Gopal Shukla Department of Forestry, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Pundibari, Cooch Behar, W.B.
Vineeta Department of Forestry, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Pundibari, Cooch Behar, W.B.
P. A. Sofi Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST, Kashmir, Benhama Watlar Ganderbal, J & K
Sumit Chakravarty Department of Forestry, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Pundibari, Cooch Behar, W.B.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36808/if/2019/v145i7/147028

Keywords:

Biomass, Heavy Wood, Gravity, Weight, Plantation.

Abstract

The utility of wood specific gravity value for biomass estimation and its importance in climate mitigation is very vital.The present study was carried out in the campus of Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya (W.B), India from September, 2016 to May, 2018. In the present study 86 tree species were taken for the study and categorized into four class's viz., forestry tree species, road side plantation, fruit crops and plantation crops based on their uses and distribution in the study area. Specific gravity was determined by the maximum moisture method. The value of wood specific gravity ranged between 0.10 cm³ to 0.92 cm³ with average value 0.56 cm³. Out of the 86 reported species, maximum numbers (28) had wood specific gravity value in the range of (0.60-0.70 cm³) followed by (15) species between with (0.30-0.40). The average wood specific gravity value recorded for different category of plantation was highest for forestry tree species (0.74 cm³) followed by plantation crops, fruit crops and lowest value was recorded for road side plantation (0.57 cm³). Maximum number of species (42) were having WSG value in the range of 0.5-0.7 and minimum number of species (16) having SG â‰¥ 0.7 and were categorized as moderately heavy wood and heavy wood respectively. The results of the present study may be useful for estimation of biomass through non-destructive methods on large scale in the area.

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